African Penguin Chicks Make their Public Debut at National Aviary

Jan 31, 2018 02:15PM
● By North Hills Monthly magazine

African Penguin Chicks Make their Public Debut at National Aviary [2 Images]
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In early January, the National Aviary introduced a pair of African Penguin siblings to the public. The debut followed an exam by National Aviary Director of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Pilar Fish, who pronounced the fluffy chicks to be healthy and thriving. The first chick, hatched on Dec. 16, weighed in at 23 ounces and the second chick, hatched on Dec. 20, weighed 22 ounces. Both are growing fast.

The downy grey chicks were first introduced to the world via a live streaming Penguin Nest Cam that recorded their hatching and early care by their parents, Bette and Sidney. The chicks are now snug in their climate-controlled space in the Avian Care Center window, where they are being carefully monitored by National Aviary staff. Once the chicks are old enough, they will be moved back into Penguin Point to rejoin the rest of the African Penguin colony.

The National Aviary’s Penguin Point habitat is home to 20 adult African Penguins. African Penguins are listed as Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM, with less than 25,000 pairs remaining in the wild. The National Aviary participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA)’s Species Survival Program® (SSP) which is designed to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically stable population for the long-term future.

For photos updates on the penguin chicks as they grow, follow the National Aviary on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and join the conversation by using #penguinchickPGH.